Over 15 lakh medical shops shut across India as chemists protest e-pharmacies
Over 15 lakh medical shops across India shut on May 20, 2024, as chemists protested against e-pharmacies and alleged predatory pricing by corporate chains. The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists demanded the rollback of pandemic-era relaxations enabling online medicine sales, citing risks of counterfeit drugs and harm to small retailers.
More than 15 lakh medical shops across India closed on May 20 as chemists and druggists staged a nationwide protest against e-pharmacies and corporate pharmacy chains. The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) organized the shutdown to oppose what it called illegal online medicine sales and aggressive pricing practices by large companies, which they claim threaten small retailers. The protest saw nearly 40,000 pharmacies in Tamil Nadu alone participating, though hospital-affiliated chains like Apollo, MedPlus, Tulasi Pharmacy, and Muthu Pharmacy remained operational. AIOCD president Jagannath Shinde stated the strike aimed to reverse COVID-19 pandemic notifications that allowed doorstep medicine delivery, arguing these provisions had enabled unregulated online sales. He warned that online platforms were selling counterfeit drugs, antibiotics, and scheduled medicines without prescriptions, endangering public health, particularly among young people. State-run pharmacies in Tamil Nadu, including Chief Minister’s Pharmacies, Tamil Nadu Cooperative Society Pharmacies, and Prime Minister’s Jan Aushadhi Kendras, also stayed open. The Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department reported that around 5,000 pharmacies across the state continued operations to ensure medicine availability, while district-level helplines were set up to address public concerns. Authorities deployed 69 drug inspectors to monitor pharmacy operations and maintain essential medicine supply. The protest is part of a broader campaign by chemists’ associations to push for stricter regulations on online medicine sales and protections for traditional retail pharmacies. Shinde emphasized that the prolonged relaxation of pandemic-era rules had allowed unchecked growth in e-pharmacy operations, harming small businesses and compromising drug safety. The strike highlighted ongoing tensions between traditional pharmacies and digital health platforms over market access and regulatory oversight.
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